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MiLB pitchers will be required to step off the rubber before they can throw to a base on a pickoff attempt. As such, the new rule will eliminate the Andy Pettitte-style pickoff move where a lefty hangs on his back leg before either stepping toward first base and throwing over or stepping toward home to pitch. Inside moves at second base are also prohibited by the rule change.

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Law ranked the Padres’ system fifth overall but behind both the Dodgers and Dbacks.

5. San Diego Padres

The No. 1 system in my rankings the past two years took a few hits in 2019, from the graduations of the top prospect in baseball last winter (Fernando Tatis Jr.) and five others from its top 20 to the trade of top 100 overall prospect Xavier Edwards this winter for Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth. The Padres have also seen a few guys stall in their progress, or at least hit some obstacles as they’ve reached High A or Double A, while the pipeline behind them isn’t quite as productive as it was right after 2016, when they spent over $70 million in bonuses and penalties in the international market. They do still boast the minors’ top pitching prospect and substantial pitching depth, as well as a large class of highly athletic position players all across the diamond who look like they could fill out most of a lineup in two to three years.

Campy and Abrams could end up top 10 if they have another season like last.. Trammell has looked so good since about mid August yet he is trending backwards on these lists ??? I expect 3 or so "other" Padres to move into top 100 status by mid year..

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Yoelkis Cespeded declared a FA.. The Cuban ballplayer has LOUD toiols and an 80 arm... Just a typical AJP target.. He is restricted to J2 intl rules..so likely holds on to next J2 to get bigger bonus $$

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Best toolsPlayers are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Interesting that MLB.com says Gore has the 60 grade control but Keith Law said this abt Gore

"He doesn’t walk many guys, but I wouldn’t say he has average control just yet; he gets guys to chase, and limits walks without being a true strike-thrower. With the way his stuff moves, I’m hardly surprised, and he could be a top-end starter with just fringy control. If his command and control ever become plus, or even strongly above-average, he’ll contend for a Cy Young award someday."

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There was never going to be baseball on Opening Day for Mason Feole. The former Prout School star is about eight months into his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, and the finish line is coming into focus.
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Feole is still about a month out from throwing off the mound.
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“It’s a little different kind of being in the ghost land at the complex where there’s only five or six of us doing stuff,” Feole said earlier this week. “There’s no one around.”
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Feole and about 20 prospects remain on site, including two other pitchers working their way back from Tommy John.

“Everyone is on their everyday routine, and then all of a sudden all 250 people in the organization get called up and it’s like, ‘You’re going home,’” Feole said. “It was chaos.”
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“I feel really strong,” Feole said. “Honestly it feels like I’m in high school again throwing the baseball, which is really cool.”
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“We do workouts where we’re holding a bottle of disinfectant,” Feole said. “Everywhere we touch we’ve got to wipe it down between each set. It’s super strict there.”
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“Right now it’s definitely a little weird with everything going on in our world, but we are definitely very lucky as professional athletes to have the best medical and the best trainers and doctors you could really think of on hand,” Feole said. “They’re going to be there for us, and that’s with or without the pandemic going on.

“Through the rehab process it’s been great to be able to rehab with guys who have taken other players through the same kind of steps that I have to get through now to get my arm and body back in shape. We’re really lucky and we’re also very grateful and thankful to be in the position that we’re in.”

The difference between high school and college athletics, with professional trainers and medical staff there for you daily, and (some) personal equipment being purchased for you, was really dizzying. I had thought that I was a pretty disciplined athlete in high school, i.e. I was working out at 5:45 AM, and worked late into afternoon/evening, everyone else had long since gone home. But college kicked it up a whole 'nuther notch. I envy the experience of today's minor league pro-athlete, including the low pay and travel; they're also having the time of their lives, whether or not they make it to the show. Just the opportunity to compete at the highest levels, is a privilege.